Chaves County, New Mexico

Chaves County, New Mexico
Chaves County Courthouse in Roswell, New Mexico
Seal
Location in the state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 25, 1889
Seat	Roswell
Largest city	Roswell
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	6,075 sq mi (15,734 km²) 6,071 sq mi (15,724 km²) 4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.07%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	61,382 10/sq mi (4/km²)
Website	co.chaves.nm.us

Chaves County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of 2000, the population was 61,382. Its county seat is Roswell.^[1] The name commemorates the name of Jose Francisco Chaves. Created by Territorial Legislature, Feb. 25, 1889, out of land from the county of Lincoln. The county's area comprises 6,071 sq mi, making it the fourth largest county in the state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,075 square miles (15,734.2 km²), of which 6,071 square miles (15,723.8 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.07%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• De Baca County, New Mexico - north
• Roosevelt County, New Mexico - northeast
• Lea County, New Mexico - east
• Eddy County, New Mexico - south
• Otero County, New Mexico - southwest
• Lincoln County, New Mexico - west

National protected areas

• Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Lincoln National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 61,382 people, 22,561 households, and 16,085 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 25,647 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.95% White, 1.97% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 21.25% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. 43.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,561 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,513, and the median income for a family was $32,532. Males had a median income of $26,896 versus $21,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,990. About 17.60% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Localities

City

• Roswell

Towns

• Dexter
• Hagerman
• Lake Arthur

Other localities

• Dunken
• Elk
• Elkins
• Greenfield
• Mesa
• Midway

Politics

Chaves County is a Republican stronghold. No Democratic candidate has won office in Chaves County since Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory of 1964. Even in that election, Johnson took Chaves County by only 1.3 percent.^[3]

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Other
2008	61.7%	37.1%	1.2%
2004	68.1%	31.0%	0.9%
2000	62.7%	34.9%	1.7%
1996	53.9%	37.9%	6.9%
1992	46.9%	33.7%	19.0%
1988	65.8%	33.1%	1.0%
1984	73.4%	25.7%	1.0%
1980	67.2%	28.8%	1.1%
1976	59.3%	39.8%	0.9%
1972	70.9%	26.5%	2.6%
1968	63.6%	25.9%	0.3%
1964	49.2%	50.5%	0.3%
1960	59.1%	40.4%	0.6%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaves County, New Mexico

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html

Coordinates: 33°22′N 104°28′W / 33.36°N 104.47°W / 33.36; -104.47